Loading and unloading device for endless conveyers



Z. H. BUSH March 26, 1929.

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS Filed June 30, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 26,1929. 2. H. BUSH 1,705,913

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS Filed June 30, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Q N70 \A/TNEJ WM March 26, 1929. 2, H, B H 1,70 ,913

LOADING AND UNLOADI NG DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS Filed June 30, 1927 6 Sheets-$het 3 fig j,

March 26, 1929. Z BUSH 1,706,913

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS Filed June 30, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1m igv March 26, 1929. 2. H. BUSH 1,705,913

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS Filed June 30, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 \A/TA/Ess WM March 26, 1929. 2, BUSH 1,706,913

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS- Filed June 30, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 2 I g ild Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

znvmr H. even, or GREAT'B ND, NEW YORK;

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE FOR ENDLESS CONVEYERS.

Application filed June 30, 1927. Serial No. 202,598.-

This invention relates to a loading and unloading apparatus of the power-driven ondllass-conveyor type in whichan. endless convcyer of any practicable length is adapted to travel along a suitable guide ortrack at the same or different levels past one or' more stations having means controlled bythe traveling conveyer or transferring objects from said station to the conveyor and to maintain a substantially horizontal position as the conveyor travels in different directions or at different levels.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of an apparatus embodying the various features of my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged side elcva-.

tions, partly in section, of opposite ends of the conveyor and adjacent portions of the track showing means for maintaining the cars in horizontal positions. v

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional viow taken in the plane of line 4 4, Fig ure 3. y V Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the intermediate portion of the conveyor and tracks, showing the n cans for deflecting the cars from a lower horizontal level to anupper horizontal level.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken in the plane of line 66, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of a portion ofthe upwardly traveling side of the conveyor and one of the stations, together withthe means for transferring objects from the conveyor to the station and vice verse,-

Figure 8 a top plan, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional ure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of the means for y-ieldingly'holding the transfer mechanism in its normalposition of ad gustment. 1 i I As illustrated, this apparatus comprises an endless conveyor consisting, inthis instance, of two endless chain belts -1 mounted in parallel transversely spaced relation upon suitable end drums or sprocket wheels 2- and and intermediate idler sprocket wheels 4l the end sprocket wheels 2 and -3+ being securedto suitable cross shafts 5 and -6'Wl1lCl], in turn, are

'journa-led in bearings +-7-- and 8- on upright standards '9-' and '10 as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

When the apparatus is used for transferring loads from one floora as--A to another fioor as B at a higher level or from the-floor -B-'to a still higher floor as -G- or from either of said floors to the conveyer, thelower and upper portions of the endless conveyor may travel in a more or less horizontal plane while theintermediate portionsv may travel in a more'or less,

vertical plane as illustrated in Figure 1; in which case one or more stationplatforinsas ,11-- may be located adjacent the upwardly traveling portion of the conveyor and inasmuchasthe stations will all he alike- I have shown only one of them to illustrate the mode of operatlon of the transferring mechanism at SillCl stations, constructed and I operated in a manner hereinafter described.

versely spaced relation to form open spaces for the travel of the conveyor between them. The endless conveyor is provided with a series ofrelatively movable cars-- l i arranged in sufiiciently spaced relation'longitudinally of the chainsto permit the'ioperation of thetransferring mechanism hereinafter described betweenthem asthey travel past the station platform 11-.

Eachw car ispivotally mounted upon and betweenvtheopposite conveyor belts 1- to swing lengthwise thereof and comprises a pair of similar transversely spaced bellcrank levers -13 rigidly connected to each other by a cross bar -l4trfand ,provided along one of'its fiat sides with a series of parallel lengthwise slats 15- also in transversely spaced relation to receive and support'the articles to be conveyed.

The opposite levers -l3 of each car are provided near their angles with out wardly-projecting pivotal trunnions 16 which are journaled in suitable brackets l7 Figure 9 on the inner sides of the adjacent sprocket chains --1 as shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 6 to permit the car with its load carrying surface to re main in a horizontal plane as the conveyer changes its direction of movement along different levels in a manner hereinafter more fully explained.

Theopposite sides of the conveyor chains are movable along adjacent tracks -18- and -19 which follow closely the lines of travel of the conveyerchains and are permanently secured to the frame members -l2- except as to certain sections of the tracks adjacent one of the standards as 9 tocompensate for adjustment of the adjacent drum 2-for tightening the belt and other sections which are necessarily movable to allow for certain turning movements of the cars at the returns of the conveyer belts as will be hereinafter pointed out. 7

These tracks or guides 18.a nd l9- are located in parallel vertical planes between the inner sides of the conveyer chains 1 and adjacent bell-crank levers 13 of the cars with ample clearance toprevent the moving parts from frictional contact therewith. V

The opposite ends of each car are each provided with a plurality of, in this instance, three roller bearings 2 and -2Q located respectively adjacent the angles and ends of the lower and upper arms of the corresponding bell-crank levers 13' and adapted to ride along and upon the tracks -1S- and -19 as the cars are carried to different positions by the conveyer chains.

For example, assuming that'the conveyor chains and cars thereon are traveling in the direction indicated by arrow w, Figure 1, under which conditions the car leaving the drum -2 will have its roller bearings 20 and 22 riding upon the upper horizontal section of the track l9 until it reaches the first upward turn at which point the upper horizontal track'-l9 will terminate justbelow the axistof the adjacent idler sprocket wheels l while the lower ends of the upright tracks -19 will be extended in curved lines a suflicient distance below said axis to permit the lower rollers 21' of the same car to ride thereon thus bringing the rollers 20 and 21 into contact with the upright tracks 19--.

The rollers 20- and -Q1 of the car will then ride along the upright portions of the guide tracks 19. until it reaches the upper ends thereof which are curved forvardly and terminate directly below the axis of the adjacent idler sprockets while the upper horizontal sections of the guide tracks 19 would extend rearwarely a sufficient distance below the axis of said idlers to permit the rollers 22 of the car to engage the outer surfaces thereof so that as the car continues to be advanced by the conveyor chains the upper rollers 20 will 7 temporarily open the self-closing track sections -44- and allow both sets of rollers 20 and 22 to ride along and, upon the upper horizontal guide tracks ?i9-, the track section t-4t being pivoted at at4l to swing upwardly from their normal closed positions.

The forward ends of the guide tracks -18- and -l9- adjacent the end drum 3 are curved toward each other across the front of the connecting shaft 6 in relatively close proximity thereto and about a radius corresponding approximately to the radius of the pitch circle of the adjacent drum 3 so as to receive and guide the rollers -22- around the return bend as the car travels bodily around'the axis of the drum concentric therewith.

A pair of in vable track sections i3 are pivoted at 24 to the front ends of the upper horizontal portions of the guide tracks -19- to extend forwardly ther from in alinement therewith and are provided with rearwardly projecting weighted ends 23'-- of suihcient weight to normally 109 elevate their front ends and to bring their rear ends into close contact with the front ends of the upper horizontal track sections l9 to form a continuation thereof'as far as the pivots -2 l.

These rearward ext-en less length than the d rollers 20 and are in their normal dewn-positions agai the adjacent portions of the 5 dc fracas 1W it) the rollers 20 will first ride from said tracks 19 on to e weighted ends -23- of the movable traer: sectie and after passing the pivots -2 gage the then upwardly projecting forward 1 ends of the sections and depress them to apprornuiately the horizontal plane the forr-rard ends of the upper tract: ec-

tions 19 thereby elevating the weighted rear ends -f33 between the rollers 20- and j 532 which allows the rollers Q':2- to ride along the forwardly curvea ends of the track sections l9- and under the then elevated we 'hted ends 3- of tions 23 thereby keeping the 20 and and upper surface r car in substantially horizontal position as the ear passes over he top of the shaft l'.3

Relatively short stationary track section's the upper poi-ti";

-19' are supported by brackets r85 from the rear stationary sections o6 which, in turn are supportedby bracket P .1 1. 2( on upright posts 28- ol the main supporting frame as shown. more clearly in car, carryiu the rollers 'Q1 will move in a plane below said track sections but a soil";- cient distance above the shaft 6 clear the some and it,'t herefore beeomes necessary to provide the front portions of the track in the path ofmovenient of the lower rolle sQ1-- with relatively shor movable s/i ions -29 which are )l\ 'Ulltl at -30- to the adjacent downwardly turned ends of the track sections -19 to swing forwardly by the engagement of the.

I are rollers 2ltherewith so that said rollers may pass to the front of the relatively stationary track section -91? These movable track sec ions -'-29 are of less length than the distance bet-ween the rollers and 22- of the car d e am -ted to close by their own wer- Lifter the roller -i l have passed forwardly beyond the free endsthereof thus forming coin mations of the (lOWIlWZH'tllY curved forward ends of the track sections l$)- to allow the rear rollers of the car to ride along the movable sections -25 and onto the stationary track sections ---f26-- i Additional track sections -80 mounted Upoirt'he forward ,endof of the apparatus in lengthwise aiinemcnt with ihe track scctioni-i -18 and -1-,

of the track sections -;;Z(lbeing}; extended above and below the horizontal plane of the shaft (3- concentric with the rearwardly curred ends of the tract: :soeliom -L) and f2o-- for receiving he rollers ill" and i3l--- on front ends of the cur.

".lhai is ibe upper ends tioos -i-Hi--- slightly overlap the front ends the frame Lilo of the track sec of the car around the forward end of the drum 8- the rollers -21 and -22 will maintain contact with the track sections -30- and upwardly curved front end sections 18 of the track sections -18- to hold the ear in a horizontal position.

At about the time the front rollers 22 of the car engage the front ends of the track sections 18- the upper front rollers -20 will engage relatively stationary hor izontal track sections 18 forming con tinuations of the track sections 18.

The track sections lS-- are hinged at' '-2:l2 to the lower ends of the stationary sections 2G to permit them to bem'oved upwardly by the rear rollers -20- of the car as the car continues its movement onto the track sections -l8 and, irnn'iediately after the rollers -20- have passed tl'ie fr'ee end of the track sections --l8-'-, the latter will automatically drop intotheir normal positions shown in Figure 2 to form As the car --13 approachesthe upper ends of the upright track sections Il8-*, the rollers willengage the rear upwardly inclined ends of movable trackpsec} curve-cl continuations of the track sections tions 31, which are similar to the sections L3-' and are pivoted at 3l to :a

portion of the main frame, thereby tilting the front ends of said sections up wardly to allow the rollers -20 to pass "hrough the openings and "thence intocngagement .h the upright sections l8 during which operation the rollers will have passed onto'the short sections 18- while the lower rollers 2l-- will have engaged the uprightsections -1.S.

The lower ends of the uprighttracl: sec tions 18 horizontal track sections are also arran ed in. overlapping spaced relation and curved in such manner relatively to the axis of the adjacent idler sprocket wheels -el as to allow the lower rollers 2l to pass between them and below thelmriz'ontal sections -18- at which time" the passage of the pivotal trunnions '-lo concentric around the sprockets a 'v-lillcause the rollers -2( and to engage the up,

per faces the lower track sections 16 aiong which the car will ride until it arrire's ata posit on directly under the drum r l y The rear ends of the track sectionsl8r and adj acent ends ofjthe lower nd, -l$) are extended beyond the correv i spending drum 2 and connected by" curved track sections and relatively movable track sections and -3%-.v

Suitably curved track sections are secured to the adjacentend of the track sections -l8 and 33 to extend downwardly and forwardly therefrom for receiving and guiding the lower rollers -21 as the car begins its movement around the drum 2.

The movable track sections '34- are hinged at 86 to the adjacent ends of the track sections 18- to swing upwardly and forwardly but normally extend across the upper ends of the track sections 35 to guide the rollers 22- in transit from the track sections 18- on to the track sections 33- and to permit the passage of the rollers 2l from the track sections 35- above the track sections 18 as the car continues its upward movement about the axis of the drum 2, the track sections 34- being opened by the rollers 21 and are adapted to return to their normal positions by their own weight when released.

Additional track sections -37- are pivoted at 38 to suitable brackets 39- on the track sections 33- justabove the track sections 84l to form continuations thereof when moved from their normal positions shown by full lines to the positions shown by dotted lines in Figure 3.

The rear rollers 22 of the car main tain contact with the track sections -S3 while the car is moving from the lower side to the upper side of the drum -2 while the lower rollers 21- will first open the track sections 34- and then engage the track sections 37- and shift the latter forwardly to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3 thereby cooperating with the track sections --i38 in holding the car in a horizontal position during the first upward quarter turn around the drum As soon as the lower rollers 2lleave the movable track sections -37- the latter will. return by their own weight to their normal positions while the upper front rollers 20- will engage and ride upon upwardly and forwardly curved track sections 40- which are secured to the rear ends of the upper track sections l9 to form continuations thereof.

The movable track sect-ions -3 l'- are hinged at 35- to the upper front ends of the track sections -33 to swing upwardly and rearwardly and are adapted to be opened by the upper front rollers 20 to permit the latter to pass from the track sections -l0- to the rear ends of the track sections -19.

Now, as the car continues its movement around the upper side of the drum 2 the track sections 37 and -4;0 and between the sprocket wheels of the rear drum 2 thus completing the cycle of opera tion of one of the cars which is the same for each car.

Belt-tightening mechanism.

The rear bearings 7- carrying the supporting shaft 5- for the sprocket wheels 2 are adjustable along suitable ways il by means of screws -42 for tightening the chain belts -1, said Ways l 1 being mounted upon the standards 9 as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

In order to maintain fixed relation between the rear track sections 83 and rear sprocket drum, said track sections together with the adjacent portions of the track sections 18 and l9 are also adjustableforwardly and rearwardly and for this purpose are connected to the main l'l'flCi sect-ions 18- and l:) by tongue and groove connections -l8 for maintaining continuity of those portions of the tracks along which the car is adapted to travel.

1' mm fer mechanism.

Any number of station platforms l1- may be installed along the line of travel of one side of the conveyor, one of said platforms being shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, as installed adjacent the upwardly moving side of the conveyer and preferably upon the floor B of a building for receiving articles to be conveyed therefrom to other parts of the building or for receiving articles brought thereto from a lower level of the building.

As previously stated, the top of each car is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and is provided near its angle with a cross bar -i'L-5 to which is secured a series of slats 46 in parallel spaced relation to form intervening vertical openings -47 through which certain portions of the transferring mechanism are adapted to pass in transferring the articles from theplatform to the conveyor and vice versa.

lhe platform --1l-- is preferably composed of opposite similar uprightsections mounted upon the lloor B in spaced relation and each section provided with a pair of horizontal top bars -;l8-, also in spaced relation to form intervening openings l9 at opposite sides of the central opening as --50, the openings -il9- being disposed in substantially the same vertical planes as the openings -l-'Z in the platform 11 while the central opening 50- is disposed in substantially the same plane as the central opening as 51 in the platform.

A pair of crank shafts 52 are journaled in suitable bearings -53- on the noor B-'-' near the base of the platform -lllll) and are provided with U-shaped crank arms -54- extending in the same general direc -5()-, said shafts being extended trans Versely of tholine of travel ofjthc adjacent side of the conveyor land cars 13-- and in transversely spaced. relatimti a distance slightly greater than the radial length of their respective crank arms -54l A vertically movable carrier -56' is provided with a substantially horizontal top and downwardly projecting arms 57- in transversely spaced relation, the lower ends of said arms being ournaledupon the outer ends of the crank arms .54 which serve as a means for supporting the carrier in a substantially horizontal position in all angles of movement of the crank arms and also as the means for effecting a bodily rotary movement of the carrier vertically and trans versely from the platform 11- to the cars as the latter are successively presented to the station at which the platform is located for transferring articles from the platform to the cars and also from the cars to the platform as hereinafter more fully explained.

T he horizontal top portion of the carrier 56- is providedwith a series of bars 58 in parallel spaced relation to form intervening spaces, the outer bars being disposed in the vertical planes ofthe openings e'-9 while thecentral bar is disposed in' the vertical. plane of the central gated detent 71 Figure maybe opening and carriesthe downwardly projecting arms 5T which are pivotally connected to the crank arms -5l- The crank shafts are connected to each other at one end by gears 59 and -59 and a idler gear --sGO-, the-gears --5 an d 9 being of substantially the same diameter to cause their respective crank shafts to rotate at the same speed.

A stub shaft --Gl is journaled. in a suitable bearing {S2, on the floor .B- adjacent one of the upwardly moving sprocket chains -1-- and upon this shaft is rotatably mounteijl a sprocket wheel '-G3-- and a gear G4l. I y

V The sprocket wheel --(S3- has one side of its peripl'ieral teeth removed or mutilated to form a substantially flat surface .65

which normally faces the adjacentsprocket chain 1 in close proximity thereto when the sprocket wheel is at restor until actuated by the adjacent sprocket chain .'1 in a manner presently described". 1 1

The sprocket wheel G3 18 provided with a stud or pin--66- adjacent the flat surface and projecting into the path of movement of the brackets 17 on the adjacent side of the chain -1 whereby as each car -18 approaches the sprocket its supporting bracket 17-- will engage the pin -6G- and rotate the sprocket (53 a i in. horizontal partial turn -until'the teethof thesprocket below the pin engage in the links of the sprocket chain -1 at which time the movement of the chain 1 will continue the rotation of the sprocket wheel 63 one complete revolution or until theflat side 65 is again presented to the chain.

In like manner, each successive car on the chain will effect one complete rotation of the sprocket wheel 68, it being understood that the distance between the cars l3 is sufficient to allow this cyclic movement.

This intermittent rotary motion of the sprocket wheel 63 is transmitted to the gear 59- by one or the other of a pair of similar pinions -67- and 67 which are journalcd upon a pivoted yoke 68 having a lever ('l9- by which the yoke with the gears thereon may be rocked in reverse directions, said yokes being pivotally mounted on the end of the crank shaft 52 carrymg the gear 59-.

The object in providing the two pinions G7 is to permit the gears -59 -G0 and 59 and carrier 56 to be driven in reverse directions as may be required for transferring objects from the conveyer onto the platform 11- or from the platform on to the conveyer. v I

The weight of the carrier -'-56 exclusive ofany loadis counter-balanced by weights 7()- attached to their respective crank shafts '52 as shown in Figures 7an'd 8.

Any suitable means such as a spring actumount-ed on a bracket 1-' upon theifioor -B+ to yieldingly engage in a socket 72 in one of the counter-weights -70 to stop the carrier and its operating mechanism in a definite position of rest with the upper face of the carrier in a horizontal plane slightly below that of the' platform -llor when the crank arms f5-ilare positions shown in Figures '7 and 8.

' The spacing and movementof the cars are so arranged and timed as to cafi'ise one cycle of operation of the carrier 56- as the cars .are successivelypresented to the station at,

which the plat-form is located.

V For example, if it'isdesired to transfer the articles from the carsto 'the platform rotated in the directionv indicated by arrow i Figure 7, thereby rotating the crank arnis fiof in a clockwise direction and i causing I a corresponding bodily movement of the carrier 56 in the same direction from its normal starting position at the plat form 11. directly under the then upwardly moving car 13 so that by the en agement with the load on the car and by reason of the greater speed oftravel of the carrier due to the relatively long sweep of the crank arms '54 the load will be lifted fromi the car and carried over and upon the platform 11'until it rests thereon, at which time the upper surface of the carrier will have been brought slightly below the upper face of theplatform or clear from the load to its position of rest after completing its cycle of movement.

, In like manner, loads on the several cars on the conveyor may be transferred from said cars to the platform as the cars are successivelypresented to the station at which the platformis located.

Ii it is desired to transfer articles from the platform to the cars on the conveyer the yoke 6S will be shifted to bringthe other pinion '67 into engagement with the gear 64 thereby reversing the direction of movement of the crank arms 5land carrier -5(5 moved thereon.

That is, assuming that the carrier 56 is in its normal position shown in Figures 7 and 8 and that the direction of motion of the crankarms -54 has been reversed then the carrier will be moved in a counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrows to pick up and carry the load from the platform 11 over and upon the cars 13- as the latter are successively presented to the station at which the platform is located.

This mechanism for transferring articles from the platform at av fixed station along the line of travel of the conveyer to the cars thereon or from the cars to the platform is particularly simple and expeditious and assures the maintenance of the loadin a substantiallyhorizontal position at all angles of travel of the carrier and in like manner the particular arrangement of tracks described and manner of guiding the cars thereon affords a simple method of holding the load-carryingsurfaces of the cars in horizontal planes which greatly facilitates the transfer of the articles from the platform to the conveyor and vice versa.

It is evident, however, that the construction of the tracks and cars and also the detail construction of the transfer mechanism may be modified according to different requirements for conveying articles from one place to another without departing from the spirit of this invention.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a loading and unloading device for endless conveyers having cars movable therewith past a relatively fixed station for reendless ceiving and carrying the articles to be conveyed, an article-supporting platform at said station adjacent the path of movement of the cars, a carrier movable from the platform into and out of the path of movement of the articles on the cars as the latter are successively presented to the platform, and means actuated by the conveyer for operating the carrier through one cycle as each car moves past the platform for transferring articles from the cars to the platform, said means including mechanism for reversing the direction of motion of the carrier for transferring articles from the platform to the car as the latter are successively presented to the platform.

2. In a loading and unloading device for conveyers having cars mounted thereon uniform distances apart lengthwise thereof for receiving articles to be conveyed, said cars being provided with slots extending theret-hrough from their outer ends, a carrier located at a station adjacent the path of movement of the cars and movable through an arc intersecting the path of movement of said cars as the latter pass said station and provided with arms movable through the slots in the cars for loading and unloading articles upon and from each passing car, and means actuated by the conveyor for operating the carrier, including means operable at will for reversing the direction of movementi of the carrier.

3. A loading and unloading device for endless conveyers having a portion thereof movable from the lower level to an upper level, cars pivoted to the conveyor in spaced relation lengthwise thereof to swing relatively thereto for receiving and supporting articles to be conveyed, means cooperating with the cars for maintaining them in a substantially horizontal position as they are moved to differentpositions by the conveyor, a carrier located at a station adjacent; the upwardly moving portion of the conveyor and movable through an arc intersecting the path of movement of the passing cars for removing articles from said cars as they are successively presented to said station, and means actuated by the conveyor for operating the carrier, said means including a device for reversing the direction of motion of the carrier to cause it to convey articles from the carrier on to the cars as the latter'pass said station.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of June, 1927.

ZIMRI H. BUSH. 

